The Portland daily press., 1887-10-03
IN THE souRBoNs' JERUSALEM.
our President and His Wife In the
Land OF Antique Democracy.
Indianapolis Cay with Streamers,
and filled with People.
The Journey from the House of HIs
Friends Westward.


last among his owe. At early dawn and
under promising sky the train ratified
across the Indiana line, and soon rolled in to
Richmond. Half an acre of people waited
to shake hands with President who hadn't
had any breakfast. But the President merely
went onto the rear platform and reached his
hand down to the crowd thatclustered about.
For five minutes the crowd clutched inward
at the pudgy executive fingers, and then the
train moved ON. Mrs. Cleveland was vet
resting for the ceremonies of the day. and
did not appear, though the crowd were not at
all bashful in asking where she was and why
she did not appear. Breakfast occupied
most of the time between Richmond and In
dianapolis.
The train reached Indianapolis on time,
and the distinguished party was met at the
east end of Washington street. The weather
has been inclement for the best pal of week
and the day which promised so well back on
the borders of Ohio. was evidently doomed
to drizzle and gloom. But at the train Gen
eral kneffier, the master of ceremonies, had
everything in readiness. An open carriage
drawn by eight gray horses, Senator Nc
Donald its only occupant. had been in wait
ing. When the train came to halt the car
riage was driven up near the tracks Lines
OF police with some escort kept the crowd
back. A street car mat was spread on the
ground between the car and the carriage.
Mayor Denney had alighted from second
carriage, and, escorted by Senator Mcdonald
walked down to the car step. Chief Marshal
Hawkins signalled the President to approach.
AS Mr.. Cleveland stepped out on the plat
form there was burst of applause, which
deepened into shout when the fair wife ap-
peared. The President and Mrs. Cleveland
were introduced to the mayor by Mr. Nc
donald. Mrs. Cleveland was escorted to her
carriage by the mayor, followed by Senator
Mcdonald and the President Mrs. Cleye-
land carrleda boquet of roses. She was
dressed in travelling suit of green silk, and
wore no wrap. She was the picture of unos-
tentations beauty. She beamed with sweet
smiles upon the multitude, and carried her
self with grace that captured the hearts of
every one. Senator Mcdonald was in front
OF the President. The carriage in which
they rode was draped with federal flag.
Inc column was put into motion by lilo,
and marched directly to the State House.
headed by detachment Of mounted police
ana followed by numerous company of as
slstant marshals and aids, then by the grand
" uniformed staff Of the Governor, and the
Light infantry and Knights of Pythias. The
streets through which the procession moved
were crowded with thousands of residents of
tne city, and with people who had come into
the city from the country around, lured by
curiosity to see the unusual spectacle Of a
Democratic President.
How long it has been since the unadulter-
ated Democrats of Indianapolis have seen a
President few realize. Yet the mossback of
seventy years who for half a century has car
rled nothing but the straight Democratic
ticket to the polls, who quarter of centu-
ry ago was old enough to be a venerable leader
the knights of the Golden Circle, and who
to-day can lend but voice cracked with age
to the grand shout that welcomes Cleveland,
was but a boy hardly old enough to
vote when Indianapolis last was honored by
the visit of a Democratic President. Martin
Van Buren, was the President. 1t was in the
day OF stage coaches. No railroads crossed
Indiana in those good old Democratic DAYS
Inc Government had just cut through the
woods what has since gone by the name of
the National Road. 1t was Intended to ex-
tend from Cumberland, Nd, to ST. Louis
Mo-, and was to have been macadamized
When he traversed it 1t was "a good broad
nignway, not yet clear of stumps. He
started ON his journey in the fall Of the year,
when the rain had softened the earth and
the heavy teams had churned it so deep that
bottom was seldom found. He was
accompanied by his Postmaster General
ana ana one or two other public officials.
The trip was hard one, and many amusing
stories were told of it, The coach frequent.
~ Droke down, and on one or two occasions
the distinguished party was compelled to re-
main Tor several hours stuck fast in the mud
until a new team could be brought from the
next station ahead. 1t is told that ON one oc-
caslon they reached one of those wayside
taverns IN Hancock county where ''enter-
talnment Tor man and beast" was provided
at a rather late hour of the evening. The
tfandiady was in anything but an agreeable
frame OF mind. She at first refused to get
anything for the tiled travellers to eat. saw
ing that II they wanted to turn in and sleep
TILL morning that they could do so, but she
was not going to get supper at that time of
nlgnt thg tor anybody. She was told that one of
fused to believe it, Finally, Mr.. Van Buren,
was pointed out to her. She looked him all
over, ana with contemptuous curl of the
nose, remarked:
What, that pot-bellied little Dutchman,
fresiQent? l think the men of this country
must be blasted set of fools to elect such a
looking fellow as him Presidentw
=, Inc party arrived in this city in one of
those cold, disagreeable rains that make the
autums In this section dreary beyond de-
scrlptlOn. lie was met by the elite of the
city, and the chief of the politicians. The
iestiyitles were gay and long continued, but
the klnderh0ok statesman had mortally Of
Tended the rank and file of his party because
OF oI some appointments he bad made, and
they refused to be reconciIed All his blan-
dishments were wasted, and the State gave
the next year.
If Cleveland knew enough of the history
ana TRADITIONS of his party to enable him to
recall t0day the discontinue of poor Van
buren, the reminiscence may have cast a
momentary shadow over his elated spirits.
but 1t could have been only mOmentary. In
dlanapolis today showed no signs of dis
Iavor. Washington street. down which the
main parade was made from Noble street,
where the train stopped. to the south en-,
trance OF the State House, a distance of
more than mile, is 40 feet wide and is, of
course, noble avenue, and it presented
handsome appearance, despite the dullness
gard TO the decorations was that every house
on the street had done something to add to
the general effect, even il it was nothing
more thas to put out small flag In a gem
eral way the decorations consisted largely of
covering Gov hna tne fr9nts q buildings with flags
and doors with patriotic emblems. The
court house presented very imposing an
pearance. A RED, white and blue streamer
20 feet wide, raB thu. entire length of the
washington street 'front.' festooned at regu-
lar intervals with small punches Of flags
The tower was almost covered In a like
manner, and surmounted by large fac
while over the main entrance was artistic
drapery in the national cOlors The State
House was also beautifully decorated
especially that magnificent rotunda in which
the reception was held. A large number Of
private residences were more or ies.
trimmed. and pictures Of Mr. and Mrs
Cleveland wereprofusely scattered through.
out the city.
The procession itself was an interast;ny
spectacle. The Presidents carriage was sur.
rounded and followed. by the HendricLs :
Club in uniform, and then came Carriages
containing Senators voorhees, and Turpie.
ex-senator Harrison, ex-Gov. Porter With
that hoary and parsimonious Democratic raj
ic, Hon. W. III. English, the State officers the
supreme court, the president of the board of
trade and others, several hundred citizens on
foot closing it up.
There was great curiosity to see Mr.
| Cleveland, and especially to see his wife
Mr.. Cleveland sat for the most part with his
hat on, but frequently hared his head in ac.
knOwledgement of the tremendous cheers
while Mrs. Cleveland, with most winnin1
| charm, nodded right and left To the crowds
that lined the streets.
At the State House the President and wife
were escorted to the governors rooms. and
there introduced to the representative peo-
pie, and afterward, in the rotunda. received
about 10000, who filed through three deem on
each side In reply to the Governor the
President spoke as follows:
The Presidents Speech.
Mr.. Governor and FeltoD Citizens of L.di-